Pakistan set tight security for Australia

Pakistan have arranged unprecedented security arrangements for Australian cricketers during the limited over series, an official said on Monday.

Written by Agence-France Presse

Read Time: 2 mins

Dubai:

Pakistan have arranged unprecedented security arrangements for Australian cricketers during the limited over series, an official said on Monday.

"We are indebted to Dubai and Abu Dhabi police for all the arrangements for the teams and match officials and hope everyone will enjoy cricket," Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) director of cricket operations Zakir Khan told AFP.

Pakistan play Australia in the first of five one-day matches here on Wednesday. The second match will also be held in Dubai on Friday before the next three games (April 27, May 1 and 3) will be played in Abu Dhabi.

The only Twenty20 match is in Dubai on May 7.

Security lapses dented Pakistan's reputation as a safe cricket venue after last month's attacks on the Sri Lankan team bus, which left seven players and their assistant coach injured. Eight policemen were also killed.

The incident in Lahore put paid to Pakistan's hopes of staging international cricket in the foreseeable future, with the International Cricket Council last week stripping the troubled country of its share of World Cup 2011 matches.

Even before the attacks on the Sri Lankan team, Pakistan had been a danger zone for foreign teams, with Australia refusing to play in the troubled country. It left Pakistan to relocate the series to United Arab Emirates.

Khan said police control centres were formed to look after the security on match days.

"Extensive security arrangements have been made for match days with police control rooms, and all the spectators can be zoomed in through CCTV cameras in and out of the stadium," said Khan.

"We have been looked after well. After arriving we had a good chat with the security guys who took us through the expectations of the group and how we should carry ourselves around Dubai. It's fantastic," said Nielsen.

Major General Mohamed Eid Al-Mansouri, director of the protective security department of the Dubai police, is heading the security team, said Khan.

Khan said the security plan was agreed upon by both Australia and Pakistan well before the series.

"Australia had requested specific things which we provided and a security plan was prepared and after agreement between the two countries we have implemented it for a safe series," said Khan.

A 14-man Australian squad arrived here early Sunday and practised at the brand new Dubai Sports City cricket stadium, which will become the 172nd venue in the world to stage a one-day international.